Sheesh...
...I walk out of the legislative building for two hours and things just get out of hand.
If you've slogged through all the, um, prose I've put up over the past few days, you might know that the House has to "read" a budget bill three times on three separate days.
The first reading is a pretty pro-forma deal that introduces the thing and sends it to committee for work.
The second and third readings are chances for real debate and votes before the full body.
As I've mentioned, the House will meet at 8:30 p.m. tonight. Black has said that he wanted to take a vote on that second reading "before midnight."
Why?
It turns out he wants to have the third reading shortly after midnight.
The House will go into session at 12:01 a.m. to do their third and final reading on the budget bill.
Then, I guess, they can all go watch golf.
You folks relax while I put on a pot of coffee.